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Chronotype change in university students in the health area with excessive daytime sleepiness

Authors :
Marília Rocha Kintschev
Suellen Suemi Shimada
Maria Olivia da Silva
Yara Viñé de Barros
Hugo Dias Hoffmann-Santos
Source :
Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica, Vol 45, Iss 1 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Associção Brasileira de Educação Médica, 2021.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is characterized by an increased likelihood of initiating sleep at inappropriate times through involuntary naps and it negatively impacts performance in studies, work, family, and social relationships and increases the risk of accidents. Objective: This study evaluated the schedule and prevalence of EDS and its associated factors in medical students (using the PBL method), comparing it with students from other health courses (using the Traditional method). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1152 university students who were attending courses in the health area. The presence of EDS was defined when scores >10 in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the chronotype was assessed by means of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Using Stata 13.0 software, descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, including interactions to fit the model. Results: The prevalence of EDS was 56.5% (95% CI, 53.6-59.4), and the mean ESS score was 11.1 (95% CI, 10.8-11.3). This value was lower among those who had morning chronotypes and was higher among medical students. 10.3% (n=119) of the students had a chronotype that was incompatible with the period of the course. The associated and independent factors for EDS were: female gender (PR, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.01-1.29), age between 16 and 19 years (PR, 1.20, 95% CI, 1.04-1.39), studying late at night and using cell phones before falling asleep (PR, 1.56, 95% CI, 1.02-2.38), not doing weekly physical activity (PR, 1.13, 95% CI, 1.02-1.25), and morning chronotype (PR, 0.87, 95% CI, 0.76-0.99). Not using cell phones before bedtime reduced the prevalence of EDS by 14%. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the morning chronotype behaved as an independent protective factor for disorders of the circadian cycle. Performing weekly physical activity reduces EDS among students with intermediate and evening chronotypes.

Details

Language :
Portuguese
ISSN :
19815271
Volume :
45
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.575f3b9fec524050be8ca45382c0dd43
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-5271v45.1-20200271.ing